AECOM to deliver FORS nationally

Transport for London (TfL) has appointed AECOM to take over the management and operation of its Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS).

The contract has an initial term of five years with the option to extend by a further two years.

As concessionaire, AECOM will extend FORS outside London, rolling out the scheme on a national basis to meet demand from companies outside the capital, as well as from operators keen to gain accreditation for their national fleet.

FORS is an accreditation scheme that delivers safety, environmental and efficiency benefits for fleet operators by encouraging the adoption of best practice industry standards. The FORS standards are in line with the Mayor of London’s Transport Strategy, as well as issue-specific plans relating to air quality and road safety. The scheme is currently available to all companies that operate fleets, including vans, lorries, mini-buses and coaches, in the Greater London area and has accredited more than 210,000 vehicles since it was established in 2008.

Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at TfL, said: “In 2008 our innovation led the way to increased fleet road safety in the capital with the creation of FORS. This concession is good news for the future of road safety and the wider impacts of freight and fleet operations not just in London, but across the country. FORS’ success will be enhanced and AECOM will help this award-winning scheme expand nationwide to the benefit of all operators and road users.”

Richard Robinson, chief executive, civil & infrastructure, Europe, Middle East and Africa, at AECOM, added: “As a company committed to improving safety in transport, we are delighted to deliver such an important scheme. Through its standards, accreditation and promotion of good practice, FORS has contributed to safer, greener and more efficient road fleet operations in London, and we look forward to growing the scheme outside the capital.”

AECOM will deliver FORS with support from its partners the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) and specialist fleet services support organisation Fleet Source, collectively named the FORS Community Partnership. AECOM will lead the concession, with CILT undertaking promotion, marketing and governance, and Fleet Source delivering accreditation audits and training.

AECOM and TfL will jointly manage a transition period, with the FORS Community Partnership taking over the day-to-day running of FORS on 16 February 2015, with a requirement to make it a self-funding scheme. AECOM is in the process of establishing a FORS Governance Board of key industry stakeholders, which will include TfL.